How We (Painstakingly) Choose Where to Eat and Drink After a Hike

No hike is complete without the ritual of recapping our adventure over food and drinks. Whether it’s a tiny café with homemade pastries, a classic New England diner, or a brewery with a view, we take our post-hike refueling very seriously. Because, at the end of the day, what’s the point of hiking if not to justify eating everything afterward?

One of the most important parts of any good hike—aside from, you know, the actual hiking—is the post-hike food and drink. After miles of sweating, summiting, and occasionally questioning our life choices, nothing feels better than sitting down with a hot coffee, a cold drink, or a meal that we definitely feel we’ve earned (even if it was just a two-mile loop).  But how do we decide where to go? Glad you asked!

Step 1: Google Maps—The Ultimate Trailhead Companion

Before we even lace up our boots, we’re already scouting the food scene. Google Maps is our best friend, letting us see what’s nearby and, more importantly, what’s worth going out of the way for. If there’s a legendary breakfast sandwich 20 minutes in the wrong direction, we’ll probably go get it. (Okay, G will definitely go get it. Mike will spend the drive debating if it’s worth it.)

Step 2: Google Reviews—The Great (and Sometimes Questionable) Influence

We rely on reviews, but we also know how to read between the lines. A 4.8-star rating? Sounds promising. A 1-star review complaining about “the vibes” or “too much maple flavor in my Vermont maple latte”? We’re going anyway. If there’s a consistent pattern of people raving about the blueberry pancakes or warning us about slow service, we take note—because Mike has a low tolerance for waiting when he’s hangry.

Step 3: Stalking Their Social Media

A good website or Instagram page is a green flag. Is the coffee shop posting pictures of lattes so foamy they look like you could take a nap on them?  G’s all over that!  Is the brewery’s latest post about a non-acloholic beer that Mike will definitely try? We’re sold. On the other hand, if a restaurant’s last update was in 2019 and it’s still advertising a “new” special from three years ago, we might pass.  Sometimes people will post photos of their food and tag the social media.  That might change our mind if recent photos look good.

Step 4: The Final Decision (and the Ongoing Debate)

Once we’ve gathered the intel, it’s time for the most intense part of the process: making a decision. This is where the real fun begins.

G: "This place looks nice!"

Mike: "Do you think they have good coffee?"

G: "They have coffee."

Mike: "But is it good?"

G: "Should I look for a review that says 'Mike will like this coffee'?"

Eventually, after much back-and-forth, we agree on a spot. And 9 times out of 10, it’s fantastic. (That one time? Mike will remind us about it forever)

And so, the search continues. Every hike, every new town, every post-trail craving—it’s all part of the adventure. And if you have a favorite spot we must try, let us know. Just be prepared for Mike’s very particular coffee and food standards.